CVE-2023-29526 in xwiki-platform-oldcore
Summary
by MITRE • 04/19/2023
XWiki Platform is a generic wiki platform offering runtime services for applications built on top of it. In affected versions it's possible to display or interact with any page a user cannot access through the combination of the async and display macros. A comment with either macro will be executed when viewed providing a code injection vector in the context of the running server. This vulnerability has been patched in XWiki 15.0-rc-1, 14.10.3, 14.4.8, and 13.10.11. Users are advised to upgrade. There are no known workarounds for this issue.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/13/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-29526 affects the XWiki Platform, a widely-used generic wiki platform that provides runtime services for applications built upon it. This security flaw represents a critical access control bypass issue that allows unauthorized users to execute arbitrary code on the server. The vulnerability manifests through the improper handling of asynchronous and display macros within the platform's rendering engine, creating a pathway for code injection attacks that can compromise the entire server environment.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through the combination of async and display macros that are processed when comments containing these macros are viewed by users. When a user accesses a page containing such maliciously crafted comments, the macros execute in the context of the running server, enabling attackers to inject and execute arbitrary code. This represents a classic server-side code injection vulnerability that can be leveraged to gain full control over the affected system. The flaw stems from insufficient input validation and improper sanitization of macro parameters, allowing malicious payloads to be executed as part of the normal rendering process.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe as it enables attackers to bypass normal access controls and execute arbitrary code on the server. An attacker could potentially escalate privileges, access sensitive data, modify content, or even establish persistent backdoors within the wiki platform. The vulnerability affects multiple versions of XWiki, including the latest major releases, making it particularly concerning for organizations that may have delayed upgrading their systems. The lack of known workarounds means that organizations must immediately implement the official patches to protect their systems from exploitation.
Organizations utilizing XWiki Platform should prioritize immediate upgrade to patched versions including 15.0-rc-1, 14.10.3, 14.4.8, and 13.10.11 to remediate this vulnerability. The patch addresses the core issue by implementing proper input validation and sanitization of macro parameters, preventing malicious code from being executed during the rendering process. Security teams should also conduct comprehensive audits of their XWiki installations to identify any potential exploitation attempts and monitor system logs for suspicious activities. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-94, which describes improper control of generation of code, and maps to ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for execution through scripting languages, highlighting the need for robust input validation and secure coding practices in web application development.